Photo: Getty Images
Wildfires continue to burn across the state of Oklahoma today.
One of the hardest hit areas has been Mannford, in Creek County, where many residents were forced to evacuate. Emergency Management Director Jacob Pilgrim says the fires continue to burn and it is too early to survey all of the damage, but early estimates are between 30 and 50 homes were damaged or destroyed. In all, he says 150 structures, including out-buildings, may have been damaged. So far, there are no reports of injuries in Mannford.
Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell traveled to Mannford to lend support. "The Oklahoma Standard, we are already seeing it out there. We have stations across this area with the Red Cross and a lot of churches and non-profits on the ground, so that's great to see as well," said Pinnell.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said, "I want to say thanks to all our firefighters and first responders. Absolutely heartbroken for the residents in this area."
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is also travelling to Mannford today and said he would be visiting other areas hit hard as well. "Sarah and I are heartbroken for the families and businesses who’ve suffered loss today," said Stitt.
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The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated due to Extreme Fire Weather and high winds. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Grand River Dam Authority, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and others.
FIRE REPORTS:
The State EOC sent 27 Wireless Emergency Alerts for evacuations in coordination with the National Weather Service, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, and local officials.
Evacuation orders are still in effect for the following areas:
- Northeast of 68th and Underwood, Payne County
- North Lincoln County
- WSW of Stillwater, Payne County
- Near Mannford, Creek County
- Near Frost, Coyle, Langston, Logan County
More than 130 fires were reported in 44 counties:
Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Canadian, Choctaw, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Dewey, Grant, Grady, Dewey, Harper, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Latimer, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Okfuskee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, and Woods
Wind damage has also been reported in numerous counties, including roof damage, vehicles blown over, and downed trees and power lines.
Evacuation Shelters:
The following evacuation sites/shelters are open:
- Grand Casino Conference Center, 777 Grand Casino Blvd., McLoud
- First Baptist Church, 120 W. Main, Carnegie
- Grady County Fairgrounds, 500 E. Choctaw, Chickasha
- Kickapoo Complex Gym, 106684 S. Highway 102, McCloud
- Checotah City Hall, 200 N Broadway, Checotah
- Pleasant Ridge Schoolhouse, 125 N. Commercial Ave, Temple
- Coalgate First Baptist Church, 106 West Hanover, Coalgate
- Hands of Hope Food and Resource Center, 724 W. Main St., Durant
- Bartlesville B the Light, 219 N Virginia Ave, Bartlesville
- Elk City First Baptist Church, 1600 W Country Club Blvd, Elk City
- Pryor Impact Center of Oklahoma, 315 N Adair, Pryor
- Grand Lake Mental Health, 408 E Excelsior Ave
- Vinita West Siloam Assembly of God, 5524 Cedar Drive, Colcord
- Hugo-Compassion of Christ Ministries, 301 W. Main, Hugo
- Ada Comfort Shelter, 115 N Turner St, Ada
- Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1023W 15, Chandler
- Community Church, I35 & Seward Rd NW Corner, Guthrie
- CrossPointe Church Norman, 2601 24th Ave SE, Norman
- Vici Community Center, 604 Main St, Vici
- Stillwater Community Center, 315 W 8th Ave, Stillwater
- Luther Community Center, 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther
- Charter Oak Elementary, 4900 E Charter Oak Rd, Guthrie
- Stillwater Senior Activity Center, 1015 E 12th Ave, Stillwater
- Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Boulevard, Shawnee
- Case Community Center, 1050 W Wekiwa Rd, Sand Springs
- Stephens County Fair Ground, 2002 13th Street South, Duncan
- Stillwater Church of Christ, 821 N Duck St, Stillwater
- Stillwater High School, 1224 N. Husband St, Stillwater,
- Life Church Shawnee 5113 N Harrison, Shawnee
- Payne County Fair Grounds, 4518 Expo Circle East, Stillwater
POWER OUTAGES:
Earlier today, outages surpassed 77,000 statewide. Currently, there are approximately 40,000 outages.
To view a statewide outage map, click here. OG&E and PSO also have outage maps available.
ROAD CONDITIONS:
Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highway closures at 8 p.m. due to impacts from fires and high winds:
- CLEVELAND - I-35 and SH-9W junction in Norman is a four-way stop through noon Saturday
- CREEK - SH-48 from SH-33 to SH-51; SH-16 from SH-33 to Shamrock
- OSAGE - US-60 between County Road 4461 and Pawhuska
- PAWNEE - US-64 between SH-18 and SH-99; US-64 between US-412 and SH-99 in Cleveland; SH-99 between Jennings and US-64
- PAYNE - SH-51 from Meridian Rd to Country Club Rd just west of Stillwater
- POTTAWATOMIE CO - SH-102 from Hardesty Rd. to I-40
- STEPHENS - SH-7 from CS2972 to Texaco Road
Check current road conditions on the interactive travel map at www.okroads.org or through the free Drive Oklahoma mobile app.
DIAL 211
For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact your local 2-1-1. Services are available 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1 from your home or cellular telephone. Please only call 9-1-1 for emergencies.